corvus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Scientific, Literary
Quick answer
What does “corvus” mean?
A genus of birds in the crow family (Corvidae), including ravens, rooks, crows, and jackdaws.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A genus of birds in the crow family (Corvidae), including ravens, rooks, crows, and jackdaws.
In English, used primarily as the formal Latin genus name in ornithology and scientific contexts; rarely, it may appear in poetic or literary contexts to evoke a classical or ominous tone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage. It is a scientific Latin term used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations: scientific precision, classical reference, or (in rare literary use) foreboding.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general language in both varieties, limited to specific technical fields.
Grammar
How to Use “corvus” in a Sentence
[The/Genus] Corvus [verb e.g., includes, comprises, is]...[Species name] of the genus CorvusCorvus [species name, e.g., corax]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in biological sciences, especially ornithology, taxonomy, and zoology.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Standard term in taxonomy for the specific genus.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “corvus”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corvus”
- Using 'corvus' in everyday speech to mean 'crow'.
- Pronouncing it with a hard /k/ and /v/ as in Latin; in English, the 'v' is soft.
- Treating it as a countable common noun (e.g., 'I saw a corvus') instead of a proper noun/Genus name.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Corvus' is the Latin genus name for a group of birds that includes crows, ravens, and others. 'Crow' is the common English name for some species within that genus.
In British English, it's /ˈkɔː.vəs/ (KOR-vuhs). In American English, it's /ˈkɔːr.vəs/ (KOR-vuhs), with a more pronounced 'r' sound.
Yes, but only if you are referring to the genus specifically. It is a formal, scientific term. For general descriptions, use common names like 'crow' or 'raven'.
No. As a Latin scientific term, it does not feature in English idioms. Idioms use the common names, e.g., 'as the crow flies'.
A genus of birds in the crow family (Corvidae), including ravens, rooks, crows, and jackdaws.
Corvus is usually formal, scientific, literary in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CORrect VUS (as in 'us') for classifying birds - CORVUS is the correct Latin 'us' for crows and ravens.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A for common usage. In classical contexts, can be a metaphor for death, prophecy, or intelligence (drawing on raven/crow symbolism).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'Corvus' most appropriately used?